Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Outfit of the Day =)

Hi Everyone!

Here's what I wore today!

Tried to take pictures outside, hopefully the neighbors don't mind. =P




Top: Forever 21
Vest: "Q" or also know as "Fashion Q"
Skirt: some street vendor in China
Two-toned tights: Yesstyle
Wedged heels: BCBG

Some might think this is very Japanese/Korea/Taiwanese or "Asian". Yeah, I'm pretty influenced by Asian fashion as well as anime and manga.
Good thing about a good graduate or medical school is that as long as it's appropriate, they don't judge you by your looks. I was judged more in college, or so I felt. =P But I still wear what I want so whatever haha.
I'm also trying to wear whatever I want now because once I do become a physician, I can't wear something like this at work or in front of patients. It wouldn't be considered professional (skirt is too short, must be knee length) and no one would take me seriously.

Anway, hope you liked it or it gave you some good ideas for what you want to wear. See you later! =)

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Review on New Born Eyebrow Pencil and Powder! =D

Hi Everyone!

I hope you had a good weekend. =)

Today I am reviewing "New Born" Eyebrow Pencil

This product cost about $15. It can be found at Mitsuwa. I currently have not looked for it anywhere else because I haven't finished using the ones I have, but you can try the internet.

What do I think of this product?
This has become one of my all time favorite eyebrown pencil/powder products! It is currently my staple. I have been using it all summer and still using it now. =)
I have it in 2 colors, B6 a medium brown and B2 a dark brown. (swatches near end of post)

B6 is above and B2 is below.
B6 is above and B2 is below.
These eyebrow pencils are a little creamier than Anastasia's Brow Wiz Pencils, but never-the-less, are very long lasting, easy to use, and you don't need a lot of product. I have been using my B6 for over 3 months and I am still not done with it yet!
They come in 3 colors, I am sorry, but I don't remember the 3rd one, I do remember it being more for light brown/blond hair though, so that is a choice that is available for those of you with lighter hair colors.

They are very water resistant and sweat resistant, I think one time I forgot to take off my makeup before washing my face and then realized after I splashed water on my face, but my eyebrows, were still perfect. ;D And I was in the  east coast over the summer with 95F weather and 70% humidity and my eyebrow makeup did not smudge, melt, or wear off.
The pencil part can be twisted up or down, it is not a square or cylindrical shape, more like oval but not rectangular.
The powder part is a sponge applicator that is can be twisted off from the center. Both the pencil and the powder are very pigmented and long lasting. You don't need to press hard during application at all. I actually felt that the powder was so opaque that I didn't use it for a while, because I was already used to using pencil. But then I figured out that I could just fill in most of my brow with powder, use the spoolie end to soften it, and then fill in and sharpen areas with the pencil! This made my pencil last so much longer (as opposed to using only pencil everyday).

The spoolie is one of my favorite parts! It is shorter and wider than the Anastasia Brow Wiz spoolie and MUCH SOFTER! The longer bristles also make it easier to brush my hairs, because I don't have to stick it so close to my face, and also since I have less brow hair than the average American or European, it is harder to use the Anastasia spoolie.
There is a cap on the spoolie that convenient fits on the pencil part, so when you are using the spoolie, you won't accidentally lose the cap because you can put it on the pencil part! Japanese people are so innovative. XD
cap fits on both ends!
cap fits on both ends!

Swatches:
Note: I am sorry if the images are of poorer quality than usual. I live in a basement apartment, so I don't get as good lighting (and no longer in sunny California as well). But I hope it's okay!

B6 above and B2 below
B6 above and B2 below
So, you can tell that B6 is lighter and warmer in color, good for a more golden-brown hair, or I guess warm toned brown hair in general. B2 is darker and cooler, so good if you have dark brown hair (wow, obvious lol) or black hair (if you think that black for eyebrows is too strong)

Do I recommend this product?
Yes, I definitely recommend this product! It is pretty affordable, long lasting, very water resistant and sweat resistant. It is easy to use, easy to travel with and has a pencil, powder, and spoolie all in one (very obvious I know).
Unless I find something more amazing than this, I will forever buy and use these!
I am sorry if this product is a little hard for you to get though =/, but try your best and if not, there are still many good options out there!

Thanks so much for reading! I hope that this was helpful =). Feel free to ask any questions or comments in the comment box below!

See you soon! ^_^

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

How to Stay HOT on Youtube (and other social media sites)

Before I start, I just want to let you know that this is my personal opinion. I am not a professional in these sorts of things, (my degrees are human biology and psychology), but I do like to observe and I especially like to watch people and read comments. I am also not a professional or famous Youtuber, obviously. But just hear me out for a moment. =P

I've been wanting to write something like this for a long time. As we get more technologically advanced, the ways we see, think, and hear things change and evolve. I first started thinking about this when Youtube cameout, no, I'm not that old. I'm the Youtube/Harry Potter generation, I grew up with the evolution of the IPod so, I'm not speaking from the previous generation's perspective (my parent's) but I am speaking from (I suppose) an older and more mature standpoint (definitely more mature than I was 10 years ago).

I watch a lot of Youtube, and over the years I've seen a lot of change. I definitely remember the beginnings of NigaHiga, KevJumba, Michelle Phan, Bubzbeauty, Wong Fu, and many others. As the internet boomed, younger and newer Youtubers came onto the scene, and today we have many talented people on Youtube, free for the entire world to see (but possibly limited in certain countries....*cough* China *cough*).

A few months ago, I started unsubscribing from some Youtubers. This, wasn't because I didn't like them as a person, or felt that they were getting worse. It was more that I was no longer interested in them, to say bluntly, I thought they were boring. As I continue to grow and learn, I change, and if things don't align with my interests anymore, I put them behind me.
Recently, I watched a youtuber (let's call this person A), who I unsubscribed from and A still shows up on my "What to watch" feed once a while, and A had been getting some pretty negative comments, much more dislikes than before, more criticism, and not as many views. Some of them may have been justified, a little too sharp, and some not that nice. However, it seemed like the general consensus was that A's video's were not liked as much as they were before. Now why is that?
Why, do people get famous/popular and then go down in popularity? How do people overcome that?


The Thing about Humanity
Let's first take a step back in time to the evolution of the human species (as I struggle to spell the darn word). I believe that humans are naturally progressive beings; that is they always want to improve and move forward. Unlike the world of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings (who are very comfortable where they are), I feel that humans/muggles/big people/race of men, are never quite satisfied and are constantly looking for more, making improvements, and trying to be better.
Overall, I think that is a rather positive aspect of humanity, with its advantages and disadvantages (but let's talk about that some other time).

Going back to  Youtube
So, I think that people in general like to advance. You see in everywhere, in fashion, music, technology, research, etc. We are continuously progressing and changing.
That's the same for entertainment. I think what keeps people interested in a show (like "Lost") is not only the drama, and the hot people, but what the drama contains and what the hot people do. Usually it's a variety of new things and differences. A new character, a plot twist, a change of heart. <3
Especially on the internet, I feel that  people have an even shorter attention span. And so, they get bored easily. And people, hate being bored. =P Just watch/read the Hunger Games, why on earth do they force Katniss with giant fireballs to move towards the other contestants, b/c her being far away would extend the Game, and the people of the Capitol would get bored, and like a Roman Colosseum, start complaining or something, and maybe throw food, or who knows, umbrellas.

So, I suppose, the short answer for those of you who want to live off of Youtube and stay famous on Youtube, is to not be boring. Well, wasn't that obvious? But I think there's more to that.

I am also subscribed to let's say Youtuber B and Youtuber C. B and C are both very famous, have a lot of fans, and whenever B or C get's criticized, the criticizer usually ends up like the "Red Wedding", completely KOed to bits.
Both B and C have been on Youtube for a long time, I think at least 8 years, and they are still going strong. Not saying it was easy, they definitely each had their share of criticisms, whether positive or negative, and managed to pull through and stay well afloat from the lion's den of the internet mob.
I personally think that each person has a style to their videos, and similar habits that each person goes by. B and C, both had their habits, and they have both been criticized for their styles, or ways of doing things, as being "the same" or "boring".
But what made them different from A? While A seems to be falling through, why do B and C remain so strong?
B did not really address the criticisms. I think B just ignored most of them, and when B did talk back, that just created a storm of fan followers, which got messy. B's video's recently have been off topic of what B normally does, and doesn't make videos as often as he/she did but amazing, still has over 1 million subscribers and many supporters.
C actually made a video on his/her style/manner of doing videos, or what he/she was doing in the videos, explaining why things were the way they where. Also, C has started to change directions in his/her life, starting a family and devoting less time to videos, but amazingly, still has over 1 million subscribers and also many supporters.
I suppose more impressive was C, who, after the explanation video, was almost never criticized for his/her style/habit of videos, and life went on, just like that!

The Thing about Self-Esteem/Confidence
So, I think what makes a person strong and continue to pursue his or her path (despite others' thoughts) is belief in him or herself. This doesn't mean that the person is always right or wrong, and he/she doesn't have to be, because that's how much belief and trust they have in themselves. This quality allows you to diligently pursue your dreams and goals, and not letting others stop you and not doubting yourself. When winter comes, they will be the last ones standing, because they are true to themselves and have the ability to survive the coldness of reality and criticism (and stupid people).
Both B and C display such qualities. They might have had these qualities before making videos, or as their video's progressed and as they matured in life, they might have gained confidence. But this was confidence in themselves, as people, not gaining self-esteem from viewers and commentators (which is a dangerous thing).
What happened to A was that (I think) his/her self-esteem and confidence relied more on the internet, than him/herself. I could definitely see it in his/her most recent videos that A did not seem to have the love to do videos anymore. Or more cornily put, no longer a sparkle in his/her eyes. He/she talked less, and just overall did not look as happy. I think A used the positive comments as part of his/her self-esteem, but when the comments started becoming more negative, he/she got more put down and had more doubts about him/herself.
I am not saying positive/encouraging/happy comments are bad. They are good, they can really make someone's day, and make another smile. However, if someone relies their foundation of self-esteem on that, due to the volatile nature of the internet, it can be harmful, and self-destructive. And it clearly reflected in his/her later videos. If A doesn't recollect him/herself, A is going to be a walking emotional time-bomb, and sooner or later, has a much higher risk of a breakdown. You might think this is too much, but in this case, I think it is quite possible.

The Thing about Charisma
Another thing that B and C have that A might not have, is Charisma. There is something about B and C that makes people love them. It could be their personality, their style, their personal beliefs on life, etc. BUT IT IS SOMETHING ELSE, besides what they do or talk about in their videos. They have another quality that people are drawn towards, that makes them interested in them as people, and not just on what they show in videos.
For instance, when I think if B, I think of Daenerys, Mother of Dragon's, a "strong woman"(and the woman on all of HBO's ads) who doesn't give any fuks on whatever anyone says about him/her. And I think (to many people who are behind their laptop/computer/mac screens) that this is a very admirable quality. It is hard to be confident and stand up for yourself when you don't know if others think the same. It is scary to be alone. The ability to not care about what others say, even when the rest of life may be difficult or uncertain, and still move on with one's plans, is very, "lone star" and "hero like". I am not making fun of B, this is just a comparison. And I think that might be a charismatic quality that B has, besides his/her talents in his/her videos which makes him/her very admirable as a person.
When I think of A, I think of Albus Dumbledore. His/her ability to forgive and love, is a very powerful quality, that few people have. I'm not saying A is perfect in his/her Dumbledore-ness, he/she's definitely had thoughts or moments, but A is one of the most kind people I have ever seen and it definitely shows, (and having worked in hospitals, I know when someone's lying, don't even bother asking for pain meds okay) This quality of A's is one that probably draws a lot of people to him/her and continue to support her, despite having similar styles in videos, less videos or going through a different stage in life, because we admire and care for him/her as a person.


So, I suppose that the moral of the story, is that if you want to do something like this. Believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. But remember, dreams are goals without plans, so you better plan and improve your stuff, or they may become obsolete in the near future. In this internet-crazy world, anything goes, and goes in or out.
On being "charismatic" or having charisma, I don't think it is something to acquire. Perhaps as you learn and grow as a person, you may develop your own charm or charisma. But I don't think it's something like learning to play the cello and being great with lots of practice.
I think the best way to be loved by others, is to be honest and true to yourself and others. Don't wear a mask of perfection, because places like Reddit and what not, are very good at stripping that off. Talk to the camera as if you were talking to your friend, and be the best of yourself. =)
(Though exception, I understand, that some people may have poor attitudes and are narrow minded but just don't know it. Probably be great to start working on that, just saying. And i'm not saying you, the reader, I'm saying in general. I had to go through a lot of hard lessons, before I became the person I am today)

If you still don't quite understand what I'm talking about, that's okay. Just look at this puppy and ask yourself, why do I love you when I don't even know you?

That's right, fall for me suckers!


Okay, I talked a lot. Sorry. XD
I'll post a review soon, too!

Thanks for reading. I know it was a lot and you don't have to read it. I just mostly wrote it to get some thoughts out of my head. =P

See you later! =)

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Review on SANA Nameraka Wrinkle Eye Cream ;)

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the beginning of the week! I have an exam on Monday next week, so personally, I want the days to go by slower =P

Today I am reviewing the SANA Nameraka Wrinkle Eye Cream!

Yes, I know the title of the label says "facial cream" that is a mistake, just continue reading and you will see "eye cream"
This product costs $13-16 and contains 25 grams of product. I bought this at Mitsuwa but you can buy this on Amazon for free shipping here. It is said to moisturize the eye area and prevent and combat fine lines and wrinkles. (Or that's what the sign on the shelf said in English, I don't know how to read Japanese =P)

What do I think of this product?
So, I stopped using eye creams a while back, probably half a year to a year ago, because I did not feel that they were very useful or produced significant results. Significant results meaning, enough improvement in hydration, fine lines (and future wrinkles I guess, I'm not old enough) for it to be my money's worth. Eye creams/serums/lotions are expensive O_O. They must be one of the most expensive specialty skincare products I have ever seen. So, if I didn't think it was worth it, I would use my money for other things, as a better investment.
However, starting this summer. I started to get dryness around my eyes. I'm not sure why. My home is in California and it was a particularly hot and dry summer this year (having a lovely drought at the moment), and perhaps that contributed to it. It not only felt dry, it looked dry too. My mom asked me if my eyes were okay, because apparently she could see more fine lines and dry skin. Or maybe she was just being a mom. =P
Either way, I don't like feeling dryness around my eyes, the tightness of the skin and irritation from dryness are not comfortable and not pretty looking.
I was looking around Marukai and picked this up because this was a store recommendation and I tried the sample and it was very smooth and hydrating. (This is the great thing about Asian stores, they have a sample product that anyone can go and try, even foundations and primers). So, I tried it out over the summer, and I love it. =)
If you read the ingredients list you can find a form of retinol in it as well as glycerin. Retinol helps with fine lines and wrinkles and glycerin locks moisture in. I usually dislike products with retinol in them, because I have sensitive skin and it always gets red and feels irritated when I use retinol. But this product had a low concentration/amount of retinol (rules of ingredients, if you didn't know, the first on the list, is in the greatest amount, and then it goes down as the list continues) so I did not have a negative reaction to the product at all! Also, it is fragrance free.
The product is a squeeze tube with a very very fine tip/nozzle. It allows you to control and distribute the amount of product you want very well, and easily. As seen in pictures below:



This product did a great job of moisturizing the area around my eye. I used to use it everyday over the summer, and now I use it every other day. I'm trying to make the product last longer. XP It has also decreased my fine lines to a certain extent. That doesn't matter as much to me as hydrating my skin, because keeping the skin properly moisturized (with sunscreen everyday) is the best way to prevent and soften fine lines and wrinkles in my opinion.

Do I recommend this product?
If you have sensitive skin, I recommend this product. =) Also, to anyone who is looking for something to give you good hydration and help with fine lines! I recommend applying this only at night before going to bed though, because retinol makes skin sensitive to sunlight. You can put sunscreen on over it, but I would not risk that, especially since I've had sunscreens that worked for my face, but irritated the skin around my eyes. T_T

Sorry for rambling in the beginning =P. I hope it wasn't too time wasting or distracting.
I hope that you found this review helpful. =) Feel free to comment or ask questions in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you later!

Friday, September 12, 2014

Outfit of the Day!

Hi everyone!

It's Friday!

This is what I wore today =)
Even though I won't be making video's I'll try to take pictures!



I live in a basement studio so the ceiling is quite low and makes me look very tall! O_O
This is a dressy and preppy outfit. I am in graduate school now, so, we are expected to dress more appropriately at times which means more conservative and mature. Not that everyone dresses up like this, I do dress decent, but, this is more than I normally do. However, I like it and i think it's quite cute XD

I think this is very work appropriate. It could be great for going out depending on the event. I would go out with friends in this to eat or go shopping.

I bought a houndstooth skirt in Japan and I had issues on how to match it with stuff, but I think I got it right. =P

Open blazer: Forever 21
Button-down blouse: Forever 21
Skirt: Lowrys Farm
Tights: Uniqlo
Wedges: BCBG



Have a great weekend! =)

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

For those of you who like to shop online =)

Hi Everyone!

I know some of you don't have the time to go out shopping or maybe you just like online shopping more. Either way, I found a website that talks about different kinds of cloth and clothing materials, here.

There are many kinds of textiles used in clothes each with their own care instructions.
Sometimes when you shop online and look at the material of the clothes, you don't know what it is, and perhaps you want to know if it can be machine washeable or have to be hung dry, etc.
I especially look for materials that are easier to take care of and have a nice/comfortable texture.

So, the website in the link above is just a glossary of cloth materials and textiles used in clothes. I hope that it is helpful to you when you shop online!

See you later. =)

P.S. In case the link does not work, here's the URL: http://blog.thelaundress.com/wordpress/the-laundress-fabric-glossary/

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Review on "The Body Shop" Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo!

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing "The Body Shop" Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo
This product costs $10 (though is currently on sale for $6) and contains 13.5 fluid oz or 400mL of product. It is said to:
Stop flakes and soothe your scalp using a gentle, yet effective shampoo with refreshing ginger for healthy, more manageable locks.
  • Ginger root, birch bark, white willow and oak moss, known for their astringent properties, help to promote a healthy scalp.
  • Community Trade organic honey moisturizes and conditions hair and adds shine.
  • Panthenol nourishes and strengthens hair, reducing breakage and split ends.product
What do I think of this product?
So I have used Head and Shoulders for many years, I think ever since I hit puberty around 13 or so, so like 10 years O_O, I started to use Head and Shoulders and it worked very well for me, stopping itchiness, dandruff, and oil buildup in my hair. For some reason, it has not worked for me after I moved to the East Coast and leaves an oily film/residue in my hair. I have written a more detailed explanation at the end of this post. Don't want to make you read a ton of crap on my personal thoughts of why I think it stopped working for me. =P
So, I decided to try this shampoo out, it has many positive reviews and I do like The Body Shop so why not?
This is such a lovely product (let's be British! lol jk, but seriously, it's awesome). It has a sort of sweet ginger scent, not the well known spicy ginger smell or taste than many people know. I like ginger, I use it in my cooking and drink it in my tea, so I like it. If you are not a fan of ginger, this might not be for you, but it is a mild and much sweeter scent, and not that sharp.
It does not irritate my scalp and helps sooth my itchy and sensitive skin! Most of all, it does not leave a disgusting oily residue on my head and my hair is once again soft and fluffy ^_^. As for dandruff, I'm not sure if I have a dandruff problem anymore actually. XP I did have it when I hit puberty, but I got so accustomed to using anti-dandruff products, that I just kept on using them without stopping to see if I had too much dandruff or not. Nevertheless, dandruff will build up over time, during the day, and each day when I don't shower (hence, I shower everyday), so I think it helps with dandruff. As for severe dandruff, I am not an expert on that, but you are welcome to try it! There are also many positive reviews on its anti-dandruff properties online, so it's probably decently effective. (no guarantees though, lol)
I am just so glad that I do not have any residue in my hair and my hair feels wonderful, soft, non-oily, and clean again!!

Personal thoughts on why Head and Shoulders doesn't work for me anymore?
I say "anymore?" because I'm not sure if it was that particular version of the shampoo that caused the oily residue. Perhaps another version of Head and Shoulders is fine, I don't know. Won't try until I run out of this new one haha.

1) I have heard that Head and Shoulders has a new formula. Perhaps this formula does not work well with my hairtype/scalp, or if it tends to leave an oily residue.
2) I used a combo shampoo and conditioner Head and Shoulders as my shampoo, and perhaps the conditioner part of it was too oily/moisturizing for my scalp and caused oiliness. Though I'm not sure about this, because I have used combo shampoo/conditioner Head and Shoulders before without a problem.
4) I have heard that shampoos with silicone in them tend to leave an oily residue, especially hair products with softening and moisturizing properties. I did look at the ingredients and the Head and Shoulders I used did have more silicone-based products than The Body Shop one.
5) Perhaps the much hotter and humid weather has affected my hair and/or scalp, or how my hair/scalp works with the shampoo. Maybe because it is so wet here (compared to a very dry [and now drought-ridden] California), I don't need as much moisturizing benefits for my hair/scalp as before. (Though my skin seems to be fine with the same hydrating products that I used in California).

Whatever the reason, the best recommendation is to usually change and switch up shampoos. After I finish the Ginger shampoo I will try the Head and Shoulders again. I have also reordered my Jojoba Hair Shampoo and will use it interchangeably with my Head and Shoulders. I hope that will work out, because...I have half a bottle and another full body of Head and Shoulders combo shampoo/conditioner and I don't want to waste them.....T_T. If they really don't work, I'll try the Head and Shoulders shampoo only and see how that goes!

Do I recommend this product?
If you have been having issues with itchy sensitive scalp with or without dandruff, I highly recommend this product! There are 2 volume sizes, so if you want to just try it, you can go for the smaller and cheaper size. This is also great if you are having problems with your old shampoo like me and want to switch things up!

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write in the comment box below! I will see you later!

A note for my readers:
I hope you are doing well. =) I'm sorry for not keeping in touch with you and I am working on that!
I have so little free time, that when I do get it, I try to spend time with my friends and extended family in order to stay sane. =P Or go to gym, and do something productive and healthy for myself.

My skincare and makeup routine has become very basic now. I don't use masks and serums that often and stick with a good cleanser, regular gentle exfoliation, acne spot treatment and always sunscreen. My makeup was already pretty simple (no foundation, no concealer, no bronzer, no blush, no lip color....lol) But now I don't put on make up on weekends, I think of it as a break for my skin as well as an extra 10 minutes of sleep!

As for my fashionYoutube videos, I will go on hiatus until I graduate for my program. Yes, I know that may be disappointing but I need to make sacrifices if I want to go to medical school. =P Filming, taking pictures, and editing take a lot of time and I don't have that kind of time anymore. Once you get to professional/grad school, you will understand/feel my pain too. XP

Thank you so much for staying with me and understanding me. I am glad that you like my reviews and find them helpful! =)